Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-x4r87 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T17:20:10.073Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of feeding level, breed and milking potential on body tissues and organs of mature, non-lactating cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

St C. S. Taylor  and
J. I. Murray
St C. S. Taylor
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetic Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
J. I. Murray
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetic Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
Get access

Abstract

Body composition was studied in 20 mature, non-pregnant, non-lactating cows from five breeds (Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Dexter, British Friesian and Jersey) kept on four feeding levels until they attained equilibrium body weights that were proportionately 0·7,0·9,1·1 or 1·3 of their normal adult body weight.

Significant breed differences were found in the proportions of body tissues and organs and these were associated with breed differences in lactability (i.e. genetic milking potential adjusted for body size). As a proportion of body weight, intra-abdominal fat, liver, spleen and uterus increased significantly with lactability and hide decreased significantly. Empty gut and gut fill also increased with lactability but not significantly. Liver proportion in dairy breeds was 1·26 times the proportion in beef breeds. Corresponding values for intra-abdominal fat and hide were 1·43 and 0·83.

The most dramatic increases with feeding level were in the proportions of subcutaneous fat, both intra-abdominal fat depots, and the udder. All fat depots were completely depleted when body weight decreased to about 0·6 of its normal adult value. Strong decreases occurred in the proportion of muscle, carcass bone and offal. The proportion of empty gut decreased significantly with increased feeding level. Liver, tail, thymus and possibly gut fill were the only traits entirely unaffected by feeding level.

The near-constancy of liver proportion at equilibrium implies that the rapid response of the liver to a change in feeding level is eventually matched in magnitude by the slower responses in other tissues and organs, so that the original proportionality of about 1 kg body tissue for each 10 g liver is eventually restored.

Keywords

body compositioncattle breedsfeeding requirements
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 53 , Issue 1 , August 1991 , pp. 27 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baldwin, R. L., Smith, N. E., Taylor, J. and Sharp, M. 1980. Manipulating metabolic parameters to improve growth rate and milk secretion. Journal of Animal Science 51: 1416–1428.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berg, R. T. and Butterfield, R. M. 1976. New concepts of cattle growth. Sydney University Press, Sydney.Google Scholar
Brody, S. 1945. Bioenergetics and growth. Reinhold, New York.Google Scholar
Burrin, D. G., Britton, R. A. and Ferrell, C. L. 1988. Visceral organ size and hepatocyte metabolic activity in fed and fasted rats. Journal of Nutrition 118:1547–1552.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butler-Hogg, B. W. and Wood, J. D. 1982. The partition of body fat in British Friesian and Jersey steers. Animal Production 35: 253–262.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M. 1988. New concepts of sheep growth. Sydney University Press, Sydney.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M., Griffiths, D. A., Thompson, J. M., Zamora, J. and James, A. M. 1983a. Changes in body composition relative to weight and maturity in large and small strains of Australian Merino rams. 1. Muscle, bone and fat. Animal Production 36: 29–37.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M., Zamora, J., James, A. M., Thompson, J. M. and Reddacliff, K. J. 1983b. Changes in body composition relative to weight and maturity in large and small strains of Australian Merino rams. 3 Body organs. Animal Production 36: 461–470.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M., Zamora, J., Thompson, J. M., Reddacliff, K. J. and Griffiths, D. A. 1984. Change in body composition relative to weight and maturity of Australian Dorset Horn rams and wethers. 1. Carcass muscle, fat and bone and body organs. Animal Production 39:251–258.Google Scholar
Ferrell, C. L. and Jenkins, T. G. 1984. Relationships among various body components of mature cows. Journal of Animal Science 58: 222–233.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ferrell, C. L. and Jenkins, T. G. 1985. Cow type and the nutritional environment: nutritional aspects. Journal of Animal Science 61: 725–741.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ferrell, C. L. and Koong, K. J. 1986. Influence of plane of nutrition on body composition, organ size and energy utilization of Sprague-Dawley rats. Journal of Nutrition 116: 2525–2535.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fourie, P. D., Kirton, A. H. and Jury, K. E. 1970. Growth and development of sheep. II. Effect of breed and sex on the growth and carcass composition of the Southdown and Romney and their cross. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 13: 753–770.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geenty, K. G., Clarke, J. N. and Jury, K. E. 1979. Carcass growth and development of Romney, Corriedale, Dorset and crossbred sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 22: 22–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Genstat V Committee. 1987. Genstat V reference manual. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
Hanset, R. 1986. Double muscling in cattle. In Exploiting new technologies in animal breeding: genetic developments (ed. Smith, C., King, J. W. B. and MacKay, J. C.), pp. 71–80. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
Jones, S. D. M., Rompala, R. E. and Jeremiah, L. E. 1985. Growth and composition of the empty body in steers of different maturity types fed concentrate or forage diets. Journal of Animal Science 60: 427–433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirton, A. H., Fourie, P. D. and Jury, K. E. 1972. Growth and development of sheep. III. Growth of the carcass and non-carcass components of the Southdown and Romney and their cross and some relationships with composition. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 15: 214–227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koong, L. J., Ferrell, C. L. and Nienaber, J. A. 1982. Effects of plane of nutrition on organ size and fasting heat production in swine and sheep. In Energy metabolism of farm animals (ed. Ekern, A. and Sundstol, F.), European Association of Animal Production publication 29, pp. 245–248.Google Scholar
Koong, L. J., Nienaber, J. A. and Mersmann, H. J. 1983. Effects of plane of nutrition on organ size and fasting heat production in genetically obese and lean pigs. Journal of Nutrition 113: 1626–1631.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koong, L. J., Nienaber, J. A., Pekas, J. C. and Yen, J. T. 1982. Effect of plane of nutrition on organ size and fasting heat production in pigs. Journal of Nutrition 112: 1638–1642.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Larson, S. G. 1984. Ontogenetic and interspecific organ weight allometry in Old World monkeys. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 64: 59–67.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McMeekan, C. P. 1940. Growth and development in the pig with special reference to carcass quality characteristics. Part III. Effect of the plane of nutrition on the form and composition of the bacon pig. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 30: 511–569.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, D. N. and Slezacek, O. 1978. The effect of varying periods of maintenance of live weight on some body components of sheep. Proceedings Australian Society of Animal Production 12: 237.Google Scholar
Palsson, H. 1955. Conformation and body composition. In Progress in the physiology of farm animals. Vol. 2 (ed. Hammond, J.), pp. 430–542. Butter worths, London.Google Scholar
Pullar, J. D. and Webster, A. J. F. 1974. The energy cost of fat and protein deposition in the rat. British Journal of Nutrition 37: 355–363.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, St C. S. 1980. Genetic size-scaling rules in animal growth. Animal Production 30: 161–165.Google Scholar
Taylor, St C. S., Murray, J. I. and Thonney, M. L. 1989. Breed and sex differences among equally mature sheep and goats 4. Carcass muscle, fat and bone. Animal Production 49: 385–409.Google Scholar
Taylor, St C. S., Thiessen, R. B. and Murray, J. I. 1986. Inter-breed relationship of maintenance efficiency to milk yield in cattle. Animal Production 43:37–61.Google Scholar
Taylor, St C. S., Turner, H. G. and Young, G. B. 1981. Genetic control of equilibrium maintenance efficiency in cattle. Animal Production 33:179–194.Google Scholar
Thonney, M. L. and Ross, D. A. 1987. Composition of gain of rats fed low or high protein diets and grown at controlled rates from 80 to 205 grams. Journal of Nutrition 117:2135–2141.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thonney, M. L., Taylor, St C. S., Murray, J. and McClelland, T. H. 1987. Breed and sex differences in equally mature sheep and goats. 2. Body components at slaughter. Animal Production 45: 261–276.Google Scholar
Truscott, T. G., Wood, J. D. and MacFie, H. J. H. 1983. Fat deposition in Hereford and Friesian steers. 1. Body composition and partitioning of fat between depots. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 100:257–270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Truscott, T. G., Wood, J. D. and Denny, H. R. 1983. Fat deposition in Hereford and Friesian steers. 2. Cellular development of the major fat depots, journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 100: 271–276.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tulloh, N. M. 1964. The carcass composition of sheep, cattle and pigs as functions of body weight. In Carcass composition and appraisal of meat animals, pp. 5.1–5.16. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Wainman, F. W., Smith, J. S. and Dewey, P. J. S. 1975. The nutritive value for sheep of ruminant diet AA6, a complete cobbed diet containing 30% barley straw. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 84: 109–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar